VancouverMETRO VANCOUVER NEWS
Boston Bar surrounded by wildfires as heat and smoke worsen B.C. fire conditions
A fast-growing, suspected human-caused fire has left Boston Bar with one escape route as extreme heat, smoky skies and new evacuation orders worsen wildfire conditions across B.C.
A new wildfire south of Boston Bar has left the Fraser Canyon community surrounded by fire and with only a northbound escape route on Highway 1, as B.C. faces extreme heat and worsening smoke conditions.
The Anderson Creek fire, detected Tuesday and suspected to be human-caused, had grown to 43 square kilometres by Wednesday. BC Wildfire Service said it began beside Highway 1 and rapidly moved upslope. Boston Bar was already under evacuation order when the Fraser Valley Regional District urged remaining residents to leave immediately; the highway is closed south of the community.
Resident Attila Banhegyi said embers he believes came from the new fire ignited a tree in his backyard around midnight, and flames came within about nine metres of his home. He remained in the community for the time being to deal with hotspots, livestock and his property after power and water were shut off. Another resident, Kelly Anderson, said she and her husband fled with their six-month-old Bernese mountain dog within minutes of seeing the fire race up a nearby hillside.
Boston Bar is bordered by the Anderson Creek fire to the south, the Brunswick Creek fire west of the Fraser River and the Ainslie Creek fire to the northeast. Evacuation orders have expanded to the Hells Gate area south of town and properties along Scuzzy Creek Forest Service Road on the river's west side. A reception centre for people displaced by the Brunswick Complex has opened at McArthur Island Sports Centre in Kamloops.
The developments came as about 40 heat warnings covered B.C. Lytton surpassed 41 C on Wednesday, the highest temperature recorded in Canada this year. The Thompson—Nicola Regional District ordered 182 properties evacuated on the Bonaparte Plateau, while Clinton remained on alert for a nearby out-of-control fire larger than 100 square kilometres.
Environment Canada issued air-quality advisories for much of the province as smoke from about 90 active wildfires spread. Near Kimberley, crews battling the seven-fire Bootleg Complex were preparing for hot, dry conditions and a planned ignition on the complex's eastern flank.